NHS launches urgent 'one million' appeal after organ donations plummet.

Bluebell21
Bluebell21 Community Member Posts: 6,255 Championing
in Everyday life

Organ donation is Compulsory in England since 20 May 2020 unless you opt- out.

The opt-out system was introduced to increase the number of potential donors and address the shortage of organ donors in the country.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland also all have compulsory donation unless you opt-out.

Please make sure your family know you want to donate your organs after death so they can have peace of mind knowing your decision is being honoured.

Otherwise you family can indicate they do not want organ donation to take place.

My daughter had a double lung transplant and it gave her an additional two and a half years of life. That might not seem a long time but to us it gave us hope and time.

It is the greatest gift you can ever give to another human being - The Gift of Life.

Comments

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 5,138 Online Community Team

    Thanks for sharing this @Bluebell21. That is incredible that your daughter was given extra time. I think hearing stories like these is important as it provides real evidence of the positive effects of organ donation.

    I hadn't really considered whether I wanted to be an organ donor or not. I think I would happy to donate my organs if they're good enough! I will definitely let my family know my wishes as that isn't something I had considered either.

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 6,367 Championing
    edited September 22

    Thank you @Bluebell21 for this information and for sharing your own tragic experience 😔

    "Otherwise your family can indicate they do not want organ donation to take place"

    This really surprised me that we're not now automatically on the register since the change in law (I am included having registered again) but I wonder why the number of organ donations has dropped if it's now compulsory?

  • Bluebell21
    Bluebell21 Community Member Posts: 6,255 Championing

    I thought that having compulsory organ donation would increase the number of donors @WhatThe

    In the UK the family has the final say, and can even overrule your decision.

    It must be very difficult when the question of donation is mentioned when your loved one is about to die. What would console me is that by giving their organs means that their death is helping someone else live.

    43% of families asked say no to donation add to that the number of organs that are not suitable for transplant and the numbers quickly reduce.

    That is why letting your family know your wishes is so important.

  • Anhedonia2
    Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 382 Empowering

    Before it was an 'opt-out' system, I always opted in.

    Even 2 days means the world when you lose someone so I'm so glad you were able to spend two extra years with your daughter @Bluebell21.

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